Refrigerating apparatus



L. L. TORREY REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Jan. 5 1932.

F1186 Sept. 24, 192 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Liar/my Jan..5, 1932. L.LSTCDRREY 1,839,278

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FiledSept- 24, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5/ Zlwgntop9 2 LL, 7%19/71 74 Patented Jan. 5, 1932 PATENT LUGIEN L. TORREY, OF LOSANGELES, CALIFORNIA REFRIGERATIN'G APPARATUS A plication filed September24, 1924. Serial No. 739,579.

This invention relates to improvements in the refrigerating apparatusset forth in my application Serial No. 700,824, filed March 21, 1924:,now Patent No. 1,779,833 dated Oct. 28, 1930 and relates moreparticularly to the construction of the tank unit comprising the motorand pump, condenser coils and lubrlcation system.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide such an apparatus inwhich high speed rotary pumps may be utilized W1th proper efficiency andfreedom from mechanical injury.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide an effective oilingsystem for all the bearings and moving parts of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a structure in which the pumps, bearings,and motor are kept cool.

A further object is to provide a system of bearings Which preserve theiralinement and which may be immediately dismounted for inspection andcare.

A further object is to provide a refrigerating apparatus in which allmoving parts with their lubricating system are enclosed.

A further object is to provide an enclosed pump and tank structure whichmay be readily dismounted and rapidly assembled in correct alinement.

A further object is to provide a refrigerating apparatus in which arotary compressor may be operated without stuffing boxes.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system in whichthe oil is delivered to the bearings under a predetermined head at alltimes and all speeds.

1V ith these and other objects in view, and having in general thepurpose of securing a greater output with less power than has heretoforebeen possible in such apparatus, I have illustrated one form ofconstruction of such refrigerating apparatus in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of the tank withits component parts;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showingthe pump and shaft assembly in relation to the other elements of thetank, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the relation of the tank apparatusin the refrigerating system.

The refrigerating system (Fig. 3) in which this apparatus is employedcomprises the tank 1 which delivers the compressed sulphur dioxide inliquid form through a valve 2 to the compression gas line 3, throughwhich it flows to the expansion valve 4. In this valve, the pressure isreleased, and the cooling effect of the expanding gases is utilized inthe expansion coil 5 located in a brine tank or other suitable chamber(not shown) for the purpose of cooling the contents of such a chamber.The expanded and heated gases return through pipe 6 and check Valve 7 tothe tank 1, and if desired, a manual control valve such as 8 may beinserted in this pipe line.

The tank 1 comprises an outer casing or wall 10 with bottom 11, ingeneral as shown in my copending application, with a cover .12 closingthe upper portion of the tank and held in location by a series ofsuitable bolts 13. Within this tank is disposed the cooling coil 14which is disposed immediately inside of the wall 10. The cooling Wateris admitted to this cooling coil through the inlet nipple 15 at the topof the tank, and after traversing the length of the coil is dischargedthrough a nipple 16 near the lower part of the tank.

The motor 17 is an electric motor of the completely enclosed type, anddesigned to operate in a vertical position. The leads 18 are passed outthrough the wall 10 of the tank by an electric plug and seal 19. By thusbringing the various connections through the walls of the tank, I amenabled to use a light steel cover instead of the heavy cast iron covershown in my copending application.

This electric motor is composed of a field portion 20 and an upper endportion 20*. The field portion 20 is secured to and supported by asupporting member 22, whose upper end is shaped to conform to it, and

forms the lower end portion 20 of the electric motor. The portion 20 iscarried by the integral spacers 20 which leave between them spaces forthe passage of the gases contained within the tank. This assures a thorough and uniform cooling of the motor bearings.

The supporting member 22 is formed in general as a cylinder, and has theoutward 1y extending flange 23 at its intermediate section to receivethe pump casing 2%, which is secured thereto by a series of bolts 25.The lower section of this member 22 is likewise cylindrical as shown at26, but has a further flange 27 at its bottom with a rim or foot section28 which rests on the bottom 11 of the tank. Lugs 29 are provided in thestructure of the tank, at its bottom, for the purpose of guiding andretaining the member 22.

A web 30 in the upper portion of the member 22 has an inner cylindricalcup 31 to re ceive a thrust hearing, as will be set forth hereafter.Braces 32 are formed integrally in the member 22 to support the cup 31.

In the upper part of the tank is disposed a centering ring 33 having aninner ring 34 formed integrally therewith for the purpose of receiving,bracing and guiding the upper end 35 of the motor. This ring 33 has a series of set screws 36 for the purpose of exactly adjusting the motorinto proper aline ment. This ring rests on the upper end 35 of themotor, and is held against upward movement by the cover 12 of the tank.It will thus be seen that the entire structure involving the member 22and the motor 17, as well as the centering ring 33, is free within thetank, and in the absence of other connections, may be immediatelyremoved for inspection and repair, upon the removal of the cover 12. Inthis way, a very simple and light construction is provided, with easyaccessibility.

Bolted to the intermediate flange 23 of the member 22 is a pump casing2st, as above re ferred to. This pump casing encloses an impeller pump40 of any suitable construction which is properly designed for themovement and compression of the gases. This impeller is mounted on ashaft a1, whose downwardly extending end is received by a bronze-linedbearing 42 in the end cover 13 of the pump chamber. This bearing a2 isused to steady the shaft, but is not a step bearing, nor does it takethe place of a thrust hearing. The end cover 43 is held rigidly in placeby a series of bolts 4%.

The upper end of the impeller is closed by an end seat 45 which is heldresiliently in position, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The return of the expanded and heated gases by pipe 6, brings them tothe suction nipple T6 of the tank. This nipple is secured in the sidewall 10 of the tank, with an air and gas-tight joint. At its inner end,

it carries a threaded pipe union 47, which enables the rapid dismountingof this suction pipe line. The gases traversing the union 47 passthrough the elbow 18 into the suction line proper 49, which leads themthrough a second elbow 50 to the pump inlet 51. After the gases havebeen compressed in the pump. they are delivered to the pump outlet andthence pass through the elbow 53 to the pump discharge line 55 whichdischarges them into the tank above the oil level. These gases are thencooled by the water contained in the coil 14 until they are condensedand liquefied. Since liquid sulphur dioxide is half as heavy again asthe lubricating oil, liquid sulphur dioxide weighs about twelve poundsper gallon and the oil not exceeding eight pounds, the liquidrefrigerating medium passes downward through the oil and collects in thebottom of the tank up to the approximate line indicated.

On the upper end of the pump chamber 2% is mounted a casting 55 whichconstitutes the casing of a geared oil pump. This casting 55 is rigidlyheld on the pump casing 24 by bolts 56, 57. The central bore of thecasting receives a second bronze-lined bearing 58 for steadying the pumpshaft 41. WVithin the upper portion of the casting is formed a chamber59 for the geared oil pump. This oil pump comprises the two gears 60 and61, the former being keyed on the pump shaft 41. and the latter beingcarried by a stud shaft 62. The pump chamber is closed at the top by acover 63 which is held in place by the bolt 37. The lower part of thecasting 55 is formed with an annular cup 6& to receive a spring 65. Thisspring 65 is supported between the casting 55 and the gas pump end seat45. and serves to take up any wear therein. If desired, apiston ring orother sealing element 66 may be disposed in a suitable groove on theskirt of the end seat.

It will be noted that the oil pump is situated below the oil level inthe tank. The oil pump is therefore enabled to withdraw oil from thistank through the inlet 67, and after passing around the gears 60 or 61,to deliver it through the pump delivery outlet 68, to the oil supplypipe 69. The main oil pipe line 70 is made with a number of T-memhers71, 7 2, 73. which serve to divert the oil from the main oil line to theseveral bearings to be lubricated. At the upper end. the oil line "('0ends in a bent-over discharge T l, which serves as an oil overflow topermit the excess of oil to be returned to the supply base. The severaloil pipes 69. 75, 76 and 77. which furnish communication between the oilpump and the bearings, are each connected to the main oil pipe line 70by a threadedv union 73 to facilitate dismounting of the system. It willbe noted that the oil delivery pipe 75 leads to the thrust bearing forthe pump assembly, and the delivery pipes 76 and 77 lead to thelubricating chambers for the electric motor 17.

The cup 31 above referred to receives the spherical bearing plate 80 inits cavity. This bearing plate is the support of a similarly shaped ballrace 81. The mat-ing race 82 is disposed in operative relation to therace 81, and bet-ween them are the bearing balls 83. The lower end ofthe motor shaft 21 and the upper end of the pump shaft a1 are receivedby a sleeve Set which is keyed to these shafts by the pins 85 and 86.The lower end of the sleeve Si rests. upon the upper ball race 82, andthus is held in axial alinement by this ball thrust hearing. The concaveshape of the lower race and its support, permit the motor and pump toaline themselves.

In addition to the pipe connections set forth above, a liquid sulphurdioxide discharge line 90 leads from a point below the sulphur dioxidelevel in the tank, and preferably from near its bottom, to the tankdischarge 91, from which the gas passes to the valve 2 and gas line 3mentioned above. In order to provide for the proper lubrication of thegas impeller pump 40, one or more ports 98 are provided in pump casing24,1eading from the oil supply to the pump space.

The operation of this apparatus has already been described in my abovereferred to application, and need only be generally set forth herein. Inoperative condition, the condensed sulphur dioxide liquid establishes alevel approximately as shown in the drawings, i. e., about at the top ofthe gas pump. Above this is a layer of oil extending to approximatelythe line indicated as oil level in the drawings, i. e., slightly abovethe oil pump. When the electric motor is set in operation, the expandedand heated gas is sucked under, for example, a vacuum sustaining a teninch column of mercury, by the impeller from the expansion coil 5through the pump inlet 51, and this same gas is delivered under apressure, for example, of thirty-four and onehalf pounds per square inchgage pressure, through the pump outlet 52 and pipe 54 into the interiorof the tank 1. This compressed gas fills the upper portion of the tankand is cooled therein by the water flowing through the coil 14 whichmay, for example, be at F. The gas is condensed under this temperatureand pressure and flows down through the layer of oil to join the liquidsulphur dioxide mentioned above. The pressure to the upper part of thetank forces the liquid sulphur dioxide through the discharge line 90to'the expansion valve 4, in which its pressure is released to effect acooling from 70 F. to Zero. This chilling is utilized in the expansioncoil 5, and the above procedure continues.

The forced lubrication of the shaft and motor bearings assures anabundant supply of. lubricant to the bearings, and the reduction oftheir temperature. The condensing coil. 1% serves not only to cool thegases in the tank, but also to stabilize the temperature of the motor,the pump bearings, and the pump itself; and by so doing, the machine isenabled to operate at a very low pressure. In this ay, a much largerquantity of gas may be handled with the same power, by using arelatively large tank. By use of the large tank and a large condensingcoil, the water is used very eiiiciently, and a relatively small amountof cooling water will carry off a large amount of heat.

It is obvious that the invention is not limited to the specific detailsshown in the drawings, nor described in the above example, but thatinnumerable changes may be made in the design and connection of theseveral parts, or in the type of pumps employed. No limitation can beset on the ap plication of this refrigerating apparatus other than thatset forth by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A refrigerating unit comprising a con densing tank containing oil, acompressor in said tank, an oil pump in said tankbelow the level of theoil, a motor in said tank above the level of the oil, said compressorand said oil pump being driven by the motor, and conduits connected withsaid oil pump for supplying oil to the bearings of the said motor.

2. A refrigerating unit including a condensing, tank containing oil, acompressor in said tank, an electric motor driving said compressor, athrust bearing between said compressor and said motor, an oil pumpdriven by said motor, said oil pump supplying oil to said bearing.

3. A refrigerating unit including a condensing tank, a compressor insaid tank, an electricmotor in said tank and driving said compressor, acentering ring in said tank adapted to aline said motor, and a tankcover to hold said ring in position.

4. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a supporting member in said tank, acompressor casing carried by said member, an impeller in said casing, anend seat in said casing, an oil pump casing carried by said compressorcasing, and a spring between said pump c'asing and said end seat.

5. In a refrigerating unit, a supporting member, an electric motor, anda compressor carried by said member, and a thrust bearing between saidmotor and said compressor and carried by said member.

6. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a supporting member in said tank andresting loosely upon the bottom thereof, a motor and a compressormounted on said member and connected in driving relationship in saidtank, and lugs on the 'inside of said tank to hold said member in spacedrelation from the walls of said tank.

7. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a sup porting member in said tank,an electric motor and a compressor carried by said memher, an oil pumpcarried by said compressor, and an oil piping between said pump and saidmotor, so arranged that the member and its associated parts may beremoved as a whole.

8. In a refrigerating unit, a supporting member formed with anintermediate web, an electric motor, and a compressor carried by saidmember, the shafts of said motor and said compressor connected by asleeve coupling, and a thrust bearing on said web and carrying saidsleeve coupling.

9. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, oil in the said tank, a cooling coilin the said tank and immersed in the said oil, an electric motor and anoil pump in the said tank, said oil pump driven from and supplying saidmotor with cooled lubricant from said oil.

10. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a. sup porting member looselyplaced in said tank and maintained at spaced relation with the wallsthereof at the bottom, a compressor, an oil pump and an electric motorpositively assembled with regard to said member, a driving connectionbetween said motor and said compressor and pump, an inlet conduit forsupplying refrigerating agent to said compressor and connected to saidtank and said compressor to prevent withdrawal of the assembly from saidtank, a centering ring to hold the assembly alined in said tank, and acover to seal said tank and to maintain the alined relation of suchassembly.

11. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a supporting member in said tankand maintained in spaced relation from the Walls thereof, a compressorcarried by said member, an electric motor to drive said compressor andcarried by said member, a centering ring to cooperate with the motor toaline said motor and supporting member in said tank.

12. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a supporting member loosely placedin said tank and maintained at spaced relation With the walls thereof atthe bottom, a compressor, an

oil pump and an electric motor positively assembled with regard to saidmember, a driving connection between said motor and said compressor andpump, a centering ring to hold such assembly alined in said tank, and acover to seal said tank and to maintain the alined relation of suchassembly.

13. In a refrigerating unit including a closed tank, an electric motorand a compressor driven thereby in said tank, said tank being adapted tocontain a supply of lubricating oil for the bearings of said motor andcompressor, an oil pump driven by said -motor and taking oil from thesupply in said tank, and conduits from said pump to supply oil to thebearings of said motor and compressor, whereby a closed lubricating oilcircuit is maintained within said tank, said pump and conduits beingconnected with said tank so that all moving parts are contained withinthe sealed tank walls.

14:. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a cover for said tank and means toestablish a hermetic seal therebetween, a supporting member in said tankresting freely on the bottom thereof, an electric motor and a compressorconnected in driving relation and carried by said member, and meanscontacting said tank and spaced from the bottom thereof to hold theassembly of said member, said motor and said compressor spaced from thewall of the tank.

15. In a refrigerating unit, a tank adapted to contain a supply oflubricating oil therein, a supporting member resting on the bottom ofsaid tank, a compressor carried by said member and located beneath theoil level, a

motor having one end plate integral with said member, said motor drivingsaid compressor and located above said oil supply and a spacing deviceat the top of the tank and cooperating with the said motor to hold thesaid member in position.

16. In a refrigerating unit, a tank adapted to contain a supply oflubricating oil, a supporting member carried by said tank, a motor and arotary compressor carried by said member and connected in direct drivingrelation by adivided vertical shaft, a rotary oil pump carried by saidcompressor and in direct driven relation with said shaft and pipeconduits including detachable connections connecting said pump and themotor bearings, whereby said motor can be separated from thecompressor-pump assemb y by the division of said shaft at said connecions;

17. In a refrigerating unit, a tank and a hermetically sealable covertherefor, a supporting member resting on the bottom of said tank andextending upward therein, a compressor carried by said member, a gasinlet connected to said tank and said compressor to secure thecompressor in said tank, and guiding means held spaced from the wall ofthe tank and distant from the bottom thereof to hold said member spacedfrom said walls.

18. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a cover, means to lock said coverto said tank to hermetically close the same, a supporting member restingon the bottom of said tank, a compressor carried by said member, a gasinlet conduit passing through and connected to the wall of said tank andopen at its inner end, a pipe attachment connected to said conduit and apipe extending from said attachment to the compressor to supplyrefrigerant to the latter, so that when the cover has been removed fromsaid tank, the attachment may be separated to release the connectionestablished by said pipe and conduit between said compressor and saidtank, so that the said member and compressor may be removedv from saidtank, and so that when said at- 5 tachment is connected the compressorand member are held in position by said pipe and conduit.

19. A refrigerating unit comprising a tank adapted to contain a supplyof oil, a

compressor located in said tank below the oil level therein and having agravity conduit by which oil may pass into said compressor to seal thesame, a motor in said tank above the level of the oil and connected toand operating said compressor, an oil pump located in said tank andmechanically driven by said motor, an intake conduit for said pumpopening into said tank below the level of the oil, and a dischargeconduit from said oil pump to supply oil to the bearings of said motor.

20. In a refrigerating unit, a tank adapted to contain oil, a rotarycompressor located in said tank and below the level of said oil,

a motor located in said tank and above the level of said oil, means toform a driving con nection between said motor and said compressor, agravity oil conduit admitting oil to said compressor and opening intosaid tank below the level of said oil, a refrigerant gas return conduitcommunicating with said compressor, and means for connecting saidcompressor to deliver the gas under pressure therefrom into said tankabove the level of said oil so that the oil is returned directly intosaid tank.

21. In a refrigerating unit, a tank, a supporting member in said tankand carried by the walls thereof, a motor mounted on said 40 member andwithin said tank, a compressor assembly removably mounted on said memberand within said tank, said motor driving said compressor, and an oilpump mounted on said compressor assembly intermediate said motor andcompressor and drivenby said motor.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature. LUCIEN L. TORREY.

